Ireland recorded the first win of their summer tour with an unimpressive win over a poor Tonga in Nuku'alofa.

The Irish outscored their opponents by six tries to two but the performance was well below par and, but for some poor home defending, it could have been much closer.

Tonga had Viliami Ma'asi sent off after 58 minutes for stamping on the head of Irish number eight Eric Miller, while with three minutes left Ireland's Paul O'Connell and Tonga captain Inoke Afeaki were sinbinned for fighting.

The game started well for the home side. Pierre Hola kicked two penalties within the first 10 minutes and then added the first try of the game to put Tonga 11-0 up.

Ireland gradually got a foothold in the game and Ronan O'Gara knocked over two penalties in quick succession.

Hola kicked another penalty to put Tonga 14-6 up but with the half drawing to a close the game was turned on its head by two Irish tries.

Scrum-half Guy Easterby charged over from close range on 39 minutes after good work by Mike Mullins and three minutes later John Kelly scored in the corner to give Ireland a 20-14 half-time lead. O'Gara converted both efforts.

In the second half the Tongan challenge receded and Ireland controlled most of the possession.

Kelly got his second try on 44 minutes while 15 minutes later Easterby crossed for his second effort.

Tonga then threatened a comeback but Ireland closed out the game in the final minutes with two further tries.